أُريدُ قِطعَةَ قِرطاسٍ فَتُعجِزُني

أُريدُ قِطعَةَ قِرطاسٍ فَتُعجِزُني

وَجُلَّ صَحبِيَ أَصحابُ القَراطيسِ

وَجُلَّ صَحبِيَ أَصحابُ القَراطيسِ

I want a scrap of paper, yet it eludes me,

A sheet of paper can defeat me,

I seek a mere scrap of paper, yet it eludes my grasp,

Though most of my companions are owners of paper.

While all my friends have reams of paper;

Though the bulk of my companions are masters of the scroll.

لَحاهُمُ اللَهُ مِن وُدٍّ وَمَعرِفَةٍ

لَحاهُمُ اللَهُ مِن وُدٍّ وَمَعرِفَةٍ

إِنَّ المَياسيرَ مِنهُم كَالمَفاليسِ

إِنَّ المَياسيرَ مِنهُم كَالمَفاليسِ

May God curse them—so much for friendship and acquaintance!

May God spare them out of love and care,

May God shame them for such friendship and acquaintance;

Indeed, the wealthy among them are like the penniless.

Though they are wasteful like spendthrifts.

For the wealthy among them are just like the penniless.